Help, my rain barrel fills up too quickly, yikes, what should I do?!?

Question

When I am not home to empty the big barrel, it flows over and rain water floods the house.

Is there anyone who knows a solution for a not very handy person?

Answer 1

It sounds to me like your catchment system is undersized for the volume it receives. You should add more barrels, and reroute your overflow to direct water away from the house.

These things should have been done from the beginning and I have to ask, if your barrel is overflowing do you really need a catchment system? How much rainfall does your area receive in a year?

Answer 2

Where do you live, in Ecuador ?? Get a bigger barrel for gods sake !!!

Answer 3

Have you tried installing an over-flow tube to it that extends onto your lawn?

Answer 4

More barrels.

Answer 5

Get a further barrel, and connect a pipe.

Answer 6

What you really need is a place for the water to go.

Answer 7

When your barrel rises short of overflow affix pvc pipe to pour over flow into a
slightly lower container. Repeat as needed. Store content for brown water
usage such as cleaning exterior surfaces, gardening, etc.

Answer 8

You'll need to fit an overflow pipe from just below the top of the barrel to the nearest drain. Apart from cutting a hole in the barrel you don't need any tools.

Why are you leaving it where it can flood the house? That just seems foolish.

Answer 9

I've seen multiple barrels daisy chained together before.

Answer 10

Either get a larger rain barrel, or install an overflow that directs the excess away from the house.